PLAY PODCASTS
263: The One With Victor
Season 2 · Episode 263

263: The One With Victor

Overtired

November 20, 20211h 18m

Audio is streamed directly from the publisher (media.blubrry.com) as published in their RSS feed. Play Podcasts does not host this file. Rights-holders can request removal through the copyright & takedown page.

Show Notes

Victor Agreda Jr. joins Brett and Christina to talk about magic, ADHD, nerd shit, and more. Then too much about Fish shell because Brett is too overtired to have any impulse control.

ZocDoc lets you choose a doctor using real patient ratings, and book appointments (live or telehealth) in minutes. No more waiting on hold. Take your healthcare seriously and visit zocdoc.com/OVERTIRED

TextExpander 7.0 is out now with a sleek new interface for more productivity than ever. Get 20% off your first year of TextExpander.

Napjitsu offers nootropic supplements that make life better whether you’re asleep or awake. Deeper sleep, or unlock immediate, lasting energy: NAPJITSU products are designed to help you achieve your optimal performance. Go to Napjitsu.com/OVERTIRED for 30% off of your first purchase.

SimpliSafe is offering early Black Friday access to Overtired listeners. Get 50% off your new home security system when you visit simplisafe.com/overtired.

Join the Community

See you on Discord!

Thanks!

You’re downloading today’s show from CacheFly’s network

BackBeat Media Podcast Network

Check out more episodes at overtiredpod.com and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. Find Brett as @ttscoff and Christina as @film_girl, and follow Overtired at @ovrtrd on Twitter.

Transcript

Overtired 263

[00:00:00] Christina:

[00:00:04] You’re listening to overtired. I’m Christina Warren. I am joined by my cohost as always Mr. Brett Turkstra and a very, very, very special guest. Our friend breaths, uh, colleague, um, both of our former colleagues in another life. Uh, the guy who frankly is responsible for Brett and I like knowing each other to begin with all around great guy, um, uh, comedian, um, magician.

[00:00:29] We’re gonna talk about that. A bunch of other things, Mr. Victor agreed at junior Victor, Brett, how are you?

[00:00:36] Brett: I think we’re good.

[00:00:38] Victor: Yeah,

[00:00:39] Christina: sorry. That was like way more excited than I probably should have been considering. We’re recording this in the morning when I’m tired, but I am very happy, uh, that, that Victor is joining us.

[00:00:50] Brett: We’re on the cost. We’re recording on Saturday, which I actually really liked cause it’s super low stress and I don’t feel like I’m like cheating on work, but we’re at that point where, [00:01:00] for me it’s noon for Victor it’s one. And for you it’s 10:00 AM. And on a Saturday, like we usually do the show at six in the morning.

[00:01:07] So like saying 10:00 AM is too early is weird, but

[00:01:10] Christina: It’s not that it’s too early. It’s just, I, okay. I went to bed at like, I don’t know, like four

[00:01:15] so,

[00:01:16] Brett: shit, that’s your problem right there.

[00:01:18] Mental Health Corner

[00:01:18] Christina: well, that is my problem right there, but it no lots of problems, but, um, anyway, I’m super excited. Victor’s here. Um, how’s everybody’s mental health doing?

[00:01:27] Brett: I gotta, I gotta tell ya. I gotta tell ya. Um, I’m curious about Victor’s mental health, but I feel like I need to explain the stupidest manic episode ever.

[00:01:38] Christina: Yeah.

[00:01:39] Brett: So like I had a couple of weeks of. I thought I was stable, but I began to realize about a week ago that I was actually like low grade depressed. And that’s why, like, I felt like demoralized every day at work, it felt like everything was going wrong and everyone hated me and they didn’t Dawn [00:02:00] on me.

[00:02:00] Cause depression is sneaky. It didn’t Dawn on me that I actually had like, like a, um, a mental health issue, not a horrible job. Um, and then all of the sudden it happened the day after I got vaccinated, I got my flu and booster shot. And the next day I was, I woke up and I was productive and I was like super good at communicating with people.

[00:02:25] And I thought, oh shit, I might be going manic. But I was like, calm. I was just, I was, I felt productive and normal. And then that night I fell asleep. But I woke up early enough that I knew I had to be slightly manic, but it was, I normally, when I’m manic, like it’s no problem to focus on things. It’s no problem to stay awake and uh, just get shit done.

[00:02:55] And I do a lot of stuff. And this one I’m just [00:03:00] super tired. I’m calm, I’m slow, but I’m not sleeping. And so I’m just like going, I have this wall I’m pushing through right now. So I’m really tired. And if I’m an asshole to anybody, I apologize. I have like no filter and very little impulse control right now.

[00:03:18] And I’m crabby because I’m tired. So that’s, that’s my mental health corner. Right.

[00:03:23] Christina: Okay. So stupidest, manic episode ever. Crabby tired. Okay. But you’ve, you’ve also been productive, which we’ll we’ll talk about. Um, Victor how’s, how’s your mental.

[00:03:33] Victor: Uh, I can tell you, I can identify with the, what Brent was talking about. And I don’t know that that’s like super stupid, cause I’ve felt like that as well.

[00:03:43] Let me tell ya. I, uh, years ago back when web mastering used to be a thing, I couldn’t get my computer online for four days because of a misconfigured, uh, wind sock proxy file. And, uh, that was embarrassing. Um, and [00:04:00] so lately I have come to peace with a lot of things. And so it’s actually been really good other than not getting a lot of sleep the other night because the lunar eclipse we’ll blame it on the moon.

[00:04:09] Brett: What did the wind sock proxy you have to do with your mental health? That like that was a disconnect.

[00:04:14] Victor: That’s that’s exactly right. You just encapsulated the entire thing. It was a disconnect and. The biggest thing for me has been, uh, dealing with ADHD. Um, and I’ve been able to manage it. Like, I think I’ve hit a plateau where I’ve been able to manage it lately. So that’s been super, super good, uh, to get in that groove.

[00:04:35] Brett: I, uh,

[00:04:36] Victor: Y’all, y’all seem like old hands at that. So I’m just saying this is a, this is all

[00:04:39] Christina: new shit. And if it doesn’t mean we’re good at it, at least, I mean, I don’t wanna speak for Fred, but I mean, like, I definitely go through periods of time where I’m like, yeah, I am not handling this well, like this is fucked up.

[00:04:50] I am not doing a good job of this.

[00:04:52] Victor: Yeah. And well, and coming to accept, like, seeing that, you know what I mean? That’s, that’s been a big thing for me because otherwise I would’ve just ignored [00:05:00] it and been like, ah, just barrel on forward forward. But now, uh, just that realization, that awareness, which is a big part of like the mindfulness work that I’ve been doing.

[00:05:07] So yeah.

[00:05:09] Brett: here’s the problem. Here’s the problem for me with the ADHD. Like, um, I, I take stimulants. I treat it pretty well, uh, on a good day. Everything’s fine. I feel like a normal person with the medication. Um, I’m not great at like forcing myself to do things I don’t want to do, but I’m pretty relaxed about forgiving myself for that.

[00:05:34] The problem is I also have bipolar disorder and the treatment of ADHD with stimulants, uh, affects the exact same receptors that can trigger manic episodes. And so I’m walking this very. Uh, a thin tight rope between productive and manic all the time. And if I didn’t take the stimulants, I don’t think I would have [00:06:00] nearly as many manic episodes, but I can’t not take the stimulants.

[00:06:04] Like I do not. I do not function as like an employee without the stimulants. So it’s, I’m working with my doctor. We’re going through some med changes right now. I got to get this ship nailed down, but it’s a real tight rope walk.

[00:06:21] Christina: Yeah. Yeah.

[00:06:21] I don’t, I I’m lucky I don’t have the man except that I had to deal with, but I am in the same thing where like, sometimes like, yeah, like, I, I don’t like to force myself like you into doing stuff. I don’t want to do all those. Sometimes I have to. Um, that period of time when I ghosted my shrink and it was all bad, like I definitely, I need a simulator.

[00:06:42] Like I need them flat out. It’s just one of those things. And, um, the, the, the periods in my life when I’ve like, tried to avoid that, uh, approves that, so. Okay. So, well, um, Victor, uh, what else have you been up to you? How, [00:07:00] how, how things, how are things going in your life otherwise,

[00:07:03] Victor: otherwise, uh, you know, pretty swimmingly actually, it’s, it’s such a pleasure to work with Brett again.

[00:07:08] And, um,

[00:07:09] Brett: even though I’m an asshole all the time,

[00:07:11] Victor: we’ll see. That’s the thing, man.

[00:07:12] I’m

[00:07:12] Brett: I threatened to punch you down and kick you in the Dick the other day.

[00:07:17] Victor: well, first of all, I know you pretty well. And so that, that doesn’t bother me, but, uh, the other thing is that I’m always worried about being an asshole. So we have this great, like. Uh, set of boundaries based on negative reactions, I guess a negative reinforcement field. That’s what

[00:07:36] it

[00:07:37] Brett: I feel like I’m better at being grumpy than you are.

[00:07:40] Victor: Oh my, well, now that’s quite the challenge. Wow. Wow. God led has been thrown.

[00:07:44] Brett: like when you’re in a zoom meeting, uh, with people who might not know you very well, you, you, you let your responses are measured and you usually try to, uh, answer in the [00:08:00] affirmative and like find a way to make things look happier. And I definitely do not have that skill.

[00:08:07] Victor: I very much appreciate that. And let me tell you who I learned that from was Brad hill, who you both know and remember as being that kind of guy who was just like a diplomat, uh, and he and I used to love to watch and talk about star Trek next generation. And so it’s like I’ve channeling trying to channel my Picard at work and be diplomatic and, uh, and yet from right.

[00:08:29] Brett: I’m channeling my malfunctioning data.

[00:08:33] Victor: Well then we’re the perfect pair.

[00:08:36] Vax4All

[00:08:36] Brett: Yeah. Um, um, D D did you get your booster? Uh, Christina,

[00:08:42] Christina: I did. I got it on two.

[00:08:45] Brett: did you also get a flu shot?

[00:08:47] Christina: Um, I got a

[00:08:48] flu shot the week before I did not do the double thing, which I’ve heard is a, I mean, like it’s allowed, but, um, from friends who I’ve talked to, who did it, they were like, yeah, that was not a great idea. [00:09:00] Um, I actually tried to do it at the same time and they were like, yeah, if you want to get them together, you won’t be able to get them until December.

[00:09:05] And I was like, fuck that. So I had to separate, I had to get them at two different places.

[00:09:10] Brett: I got mine wondering he charmed same visit. And honestly, the next day wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be.

[00:09:18] Christina: Yeah.

[00:09:19] I gotta say that the next day, because you were Pfizer. Right? Okay. So yeah, also Pfizer, the recovery was better for me than the, the second dose of like the shot. The second is the shot, like kicked my ass and then this one, I was like, well, my arm hurts a lot and I’m feeling kind of lethargic, but it’s not like, I feel like I was literally hit by a car.

[00:09:39] So, um, Yeah, it was it’s it’s been good. Um, Grant’s had more arm pain has felt like it finally went away, but he had arm pain and stuff that he blamed on the flu shot too. I don’t think that’s the flu. I don’t think either of those are necessarily just the shots. I think some of it is just that he’s getting old and doesn’t take care of himself, but [00:10:00] yeah.

[00:10:00] But no, I, I got, I got my shots and the thing is, is that there were some people who were like, oh, well, how did you, how did you get it? You know, you did, did you fill all the requirements? Whatnot? And I was like, yeah, I’m going to be totally honest. I followed the rules. Last time I even volunteered twice, like to give, like to help with the vaccine, like process in, um, Seattle.

[00:10:21] So I could, you know, like jump the line by what turned out to be like a week or whatever. Um, because I felt guilty even though like grant met the extended requirements and, and I probably technically did if we’d really wanted to be pedantic about it, but I just, I felt like I didn’t want to be that asshole who like took someone’s spot.

[00:10:39] And then, uh, with the, the, um, guy that clinic, like w at the mass backside study, it was like, the name of the game is shots in arms. Don’t care whether people, you know, fit it or not. So if you find an appointment, get it. And that’s kinda how I felt this. And I was like, I’m I’m saying that I fit the requirements and sure enough, like yesterday they [00:11:00] announced that everybody is capable and I’m like, yeah, you know what?

[00:11:02] I’m sorry, but like, fuck this. Like, I I’ve done everything right. At a certain point, no one else is following those rules. And if you got open appointments that no one’s gonna be taking, then I’m going to go ahead and take the appointment. Like, fuck it.

[00:11:15] Victor: It’s a numbers game. And you know, it’s not like filling a, an airplane.

[00:11:19] Right. They should, a lot of people have said that they should’ve just had like full on gates, open everyone gets it, but you know, that would have been madness. But right now, yeah, like I was able to just go online to Walgreens and like schedule a thing. And I got both shots and basically had the same experience, uh, as y’all, it’s like a little fatigued the next day hurt.

[00:11:41] And my arm, I was surprised that the combination of flu and COVID didn’t, uh, didn’t, uh, hurt more. But, and I also got Pfizer as a booster, even though I got J and J back in spring, uh, which is interesting, but.

[00:11:54] Christina: Yeah. Yeah, there was this interesting thing in the wall street journal, um, about like what the efficacy is when you [00:12:00] mix and match.

[00:12:00] And in Pfizer’s obviously boost big time, uh, with any of them. I’m not Pfizer Johnson, Johnson boost epic time with any of them, but it is interesting that you can get like more antibodies depending on how you mix and match. But this is the fucked up thing, even though the CDC is completely approved that, um, other than for Johnson and Johnson, which, you know, you have to give somebody like a Pfizer or Madrona booster, um, they will not mix and match at a lot of the pharmacies like Walgreens as the policy.

[00:12:28] If you, even, if you go, when you click, you’re like, okay, I had Madonna now I want Pfizer. Or I had Pfizer now at Madrona. They’re like, no as policy, we don’t have. Um, and, and I got mine at Bartell’s, which is a local pharmacy chain that I think is now owned by Rite aid, but that’s a recent thing. So it’s, it’s, it’s a bit, it’s, it’s a Puget sound, um, a chain, um, and, um, uh, the pharmacist, she was real nice, but she was like, over and over again, she was like, you’re getting Pfizer.

[00:12:56] Right. And you’re getting Pfizer because I don’t want to mix in, I don’t want to mess things up. And I’m like, [00:13:00] I mean, yes, I’m getting Pfizer, but if you gave him a darn, it’s not the end of the world, because you can mix and match. And she was like, well, I, I’m not, I’m not sure. Like, so it feels like, you know, the, the knowledge about that hasn’t quite gotten out.

[00:13:13] And obviously the point of that is not to, um, for people to like game it, to get the best combination.

[00:13:20] Um,

[00:13:21] Brett: I feel like that, that thing though, I’m sure

[00:13:23] Christina: oh, for sure. Oh,

[00:13:24] Brett: bespoke, bespoke, vaccinations.

[00:13:27] Christina: Oh yeah.

[00:13:28] Brett: when I showed up, they gave me a fill in, like I just showed I’d walked in to the clinic and they handed me a sheet and you had to choose either. This was right before the CDC changed the rules. So I had to choose either I was high risk because of health reasons or high risk because of.

[00:13:46] Uh, workplace exposure. You just had to pick one of those. No questions asked. They didn’t ask how are you high risk or anything. And, and I feel fine. Cause obesity is, is a qualifier. So is ADHD in some states. [00:14:00] But anyway, you could just check the box for the, uh, for the vaccine you wanted to get and they would stick it in your arm.

[00:14:08] Christina: Yeah. Yeah. Um, that’s, that’s probably the way to do it. And yeah, I mean, I think for me, I think the, the w I don’t know if we even had to like, choose the, the difference thing. I think for grant, I chose health reasons. He qualified, and for me, I was like workplace exposure, which hasn’t been asked too recently, but certainly in the past, like year I’ve been in situations where I’ve done like full on production shoots and, and I feel, you know, I’m like, okay.

[00:14:31] Yeah. Like, I feel like I’m potentially much higher risk than I’m certainly not the same way as like somebody who’s working, um, you know, as at a restaurant or, or, you know, a salon or whatever, but you can make steps, say whatever it says. Um, and, and like Victor said, it’s a numbers game, but yeah, they, it seems like it’s, it’s different place to place, but, um, but yeah, I got my, I got my advisor and.

[00:14:53] Um, I’m good. Um, I’m glad you got yours in separate arms. My friend Katherine was dumb and got them in both, got them in the same arm. And I [00:15:00] was like, I was like, Catherine, why did you do that? They told you like one on each thing. She was like, I don’t know. Walgreens just gave it to me one in the same room.

[00:15:07] I was like, all right,

[00:15:09] Brett: That’s weird, like the same nurse stuck it in the same arm twice.

[00:15:13] Christina: probably.

[00:15:14] Sponsor: ZocDoc

[00:15:14] Brett: Huh? Hey, speaking of going to the doctor,

[00:15:17] Christina: Exactly. Um, this episode is brought to you by a Zoc doc. When you need a doctor, you need a doctor now, not in a few days, not in a few weeks and definitely not in a few months. And so if you need to see an MD ASAP, we’ve got the solution. That’ll get you there. PDQ Zoc doc FTW.

[00:15:38] Brett: wrote this, this isn’t their fault. I wrote

[00:15:40] Christina: Ha. Well, no, it’s good. It’s good.

[00:15:43] Um, Zack dog is one of my favorite apps. Um, but you can just download the free Zoc doc app, which is the easiest way to find a great doctor and instantly book an appointment. So with Zoc doc, you can search for local doctors who take your insurance. This is huge. Read verified, patient reviews and [00:16:00] book an appointment and in-person or video chat.

[00:16:02] So you never wait on hold with the receptionist again, every month, millions of people use doc doc, and I’m one of them massive fans have mentioned before on the pod. It’s my go-to. Whenever I need to see a doctor. Uh, I’ve said this before, but I’ll say it again. Cause this is legitimately true. This app saved my life.

[00:16:20] When I was in New York city, I would not have been able to find like a place to go and find a doctor otherwise. And even now that I have like more primary care doctors, like Zoc doc is a great tool that I use when I’m trying to find somebody to see because of the reviews and the fact that I can book within the app.

[00:16:35] And the fact that I know that they take my insurance Zoc doc makes healthcare easy. Now is the time to prioritize your health. Good as doc doc.com/overtired and download the Zoc doc app to sign up free and book a top rated doctor many are available as soon as today. That’s Zoic doc.com/overtired.

[00:16:59] Brett: [00:17:00] Magic.

[00:17:01] Magic Is Everywhere or some shit

[00:17:01] Christina: Gotcha.

[00:17:02] Brett: That was actually, that was a secret segue.

[00:17:05] Christina: Yeah. Talk to us about magic,

[00:17:06] a Victor

[00:17:07] Victor: just like magic. Um, yeah. Uh, well, not a lot of people know this because I’ve not done a lot of magic for other people. Um, I’m more like the researching type of magic nerd and collecting magic nerd, but, um, I’m very much a magic nerd got into it when I was a kid, like a lot of magic nerds.

[00:17:26] And, uh, there’s a, there’s a book out that I highly recommend to anybody who is curious at all about magic. And it’s not like the secrets behind stuff, because that’s obviously that kind of ruins it, you know? Um, it’s like if you made a cake and you couldn’t taste sweet, it would, it would not be a great cake.

[00:17:45] Right. It’s purely textual experience, which, uh, I think I did have COVID a while back by the way and lost my sense of taste. And that was a really interesting, so it’s kind of like that. Well, there’s a great book by Joshua J uh, called how [00:18:00] magicians think that I highly recommend, uh, everybody read, honestly, because it’s his love of magic.

[00:18:06] And he talks about why it’s so compelling as an art form. Um, and it’s, you know, it’s one of those things. It’s not like music where you can just kind of chill out and enjoy it. You have to be actively engaged in, Hey, it’s like a lean forward experience as Steve jobs would say, but it is, you know, you have to really engage your mind.

[00:18:24] And yet at the same time, you’re tricking your brain.

[00:18:27] Christina: So you, you engage your mind, but you also have to have a certain amount of a suspension of disbelief and like, watch it, right. Unless, unless you’re. Now when you watch magic shows, are you trying to figure out the trick? Are you enjoying it? Like what, what’s your

[00:18:41] Victor: that’s, that’s the thing, you know, sometimes, uh, I can sit back and enjoy it.

[00:18:46] I, when I went and saw Penn and teller, um, I was absolutely able to enjoy it now, afterwards I was picking it apart and now I read stuff or I see clips and I’m like, oh right, okay. Uh, let it, you know, but in the moment, [00:19:00] um, I’m able to just kind of let go, partly because my memory issues and I’m just like, oh, I’ve I’ve, you know, whatever get lost in won’t, but that’s the really magical thing about magic is like, it transports us back to when we were a little kid and we experienced wonder at everything.

[00:19:16] Right. Everything was new and it’s that childlike mind that. And so that really is fascinating to me. Um, so yeah, if you’re at all curious about magic is a great book and that’s, that’s why I love magic. There’s my little essay on

[00:19:27] Christina: it. Nice.

[00:19:29] Brett: I’ve always wondered, like with comedy, most comedians are they’re broken in some way. They have some trauma, some mental health issue, like, you know, and this is it’s what makes comedy gold, uh, is. Is magic similar. D did you get into magic out of like childhood pain or was it truly just child, like, like curiosity and wonder?

[00:19:58] Victor: you know, that’s, that’s, that’s a really good question [00:20:00] because I’ve, I’ve tread in both realms as they say, and in middle earth. And, uh, uh, I think that the most magicians that I’ve. Are just more positive, like overall they’re more optimistic and, and it’s, I think it’s part of that childlike wonder thing.

[00:20:17] Like you have to be able to let your guard down. Whereas most comedians are very cynical, uh, and on purpose, like that’s where you get your humor. As you look at things from a completely different angle, magicians look at things from a different angle too, but they’re also trying to evoke a completely different, um, sort of emotion, uh, you know, and ironically though, both use surprises as, as a sort of way to trigger that emotion.

[00:20:46] Christina: Yeah. An illusionist mike.

[00:20:52] And it’s from a Russ development we demand

[00:20:54] Victor: to be taken

[00:20:54] Christina: seriously. In addition, you know, magicians are a thing that, you know, tricks are thing [00:21:00] that, that, that, that, uh, people do for money that, that whores do for money or Mandy.

[00:21:05] Victor: Yeah. The thing is, is that there’s a lot of magic out there. That’s done very poorly and there’s a lot of copycat stuff and the art form has, I mean, it’s, it’s struggled, but at the same time, it’s, it’s just a completely different type of thing.

[00:21:17] Like, it, it, it should always be a very niche sort of thing because it’s, again, it’s not like music where you can just enjoy it in the background, even with movies and TV. Sometimes we use them as comfort. Once you’ve seen a trick, you can’t go back, you know, and you can’t unsee that. And yeah. So watching magic over and over again is not really a thing.

[00:21:36] You crave new experiences.

[00:21:38] Christina: Right, right, right. I mean, I think that’s why, like I love Penn and teller. Um, I’ve never seen them live, but I would love to. Um, and cause I think that they do like.

[00:21:46] Brett: Can I see that? Did I go with you Victor to see

[00:21:49] Victor: did. Yup.

[00:21:51] Brett: Vegas baby.

[00:21:53] Christina: Yeah, I was going to say, I would love to see them, um, see one of their shows. Um, cause I, I find them very interesting in a lot of [00:22:00] levels, but they’re branded like the way they deconstructed the entire magic kind of genre in the fact that they show the reveal.

[00:22:06] But yet it’s still, even as you’re seeing how they’re showing you the trick, you’re still mesmerized and you’re not paying attention because they’re the humor. I think Penn and teller are fucking brilliant.

[00:22:18] Victor: Yeah. Yeah. They really are. Uh, another guy, if you’ve not seen Derek Delgado’s, uh, in and of themselves, uh, in and of itself, sorry on, uh, I think it’s on Hulu.

[00:22:28] Um, check that out as well is incredibly evocative. I mean, it’s the kind of thing that will make you cry and very few magic shows will make you.

[00:22:36] Christina: Oh, I will check that out. I’m not, I’m not, not like a huge like magic nerd or whatever. Um, but as a kid, you know, most of us, I got into magic. Um, although I wasn’t that good at it.

[00:22:46] So for me, it was interesting. It was one of those things. It’s kind of like me in sports where like I’m more interested in kind of like the process and kind of the story behind it and the dramas and whatnot associated with it. Like rather than, you know, maybe like [00:23:00] the, like performing and perfecting the art form itself.

[00:23:04] Um, which I think is why like Penn and teller, it’s why I’ve liked reading about, you know, things that David Blaine has done. And, and, and like, uh, like, like his Ted talk about how he held his breath, you know, for, for 22 minutes or whatever, which was still like one of my favorite Ted talks and, um, and, and others, I mean, honestly it is, it’s like a really, really good Ted talk and, and those things are kind of incredible.

[00:23:25] Um, but I was always obsessed with, um, um, Houdini, um, as a kid. Was for you when you got into magic? Like, was it like, did you, do you read something? Did you see something? Like, what was it that sparked that, that interest in you?

[00:23:40] Victor: Um, yeah, you know, I got a, a, a top hat full of magic that I think my grandparents bought it, like KB toys in Winston-Salem mall back in, I don’t know when, but I was little, uh, and a lot of people get into it with like one of these childhood magic sets, which is why you still see magic sets sold today.

[00:23:57] Uh, but for me, it was also, [00:24:00] I think my first tenure trick where I. Like it was this whole experience, right? Where you, the packaging was a certain way and the directions were a certain way. And the mechanics and the engineering of it really, uh, was a thing. So if you look up 10 year old magic in Japan, uh, they do a lot of stuff with Disney, actually doing puzzles, uh, printing puzzles and whatnot, but they have this sideline where they release a few magic tricks every year.

[00:24:25] And this was the eighties. Uh, and they do like four or five tricks a year. And I just happened to get a couple. Um, and I started finding out more about the company as it was like, it was like the apple of, of, uh, of magic because they had this sort of like standard. They had a very high standard, a lot of magic tricks.

[00:24:44] They come with like these photographs or, um, uh, mimeographed typed up instructions. So there’s like low budget. I mean, it’s kinda hokey and fun, but Tanya had this like much higher standard. In fact, Alan Parsons. Of the Alan Parsons project did the [00:25:00] translations back in the eighties. Oh, wow. I had no idea up until a

[00:25:03] Christina: few years ago. That’s actually kind of awesome, but I’m not going to lie. Like, I didn’t know that. And so, so does he speak japanese? Yeah.

[00:25:12] Victor: Yeah. Fluent Japanese. Yeah.

[00:25:15] Christina: Awesome. And he’s expert and he’s like a good enough like translator to be able to that’s actually hold on out. Okay. Today I learned that’s actually a really fun, fun time.

[00:25:26] Victor: Exactly. Exactly. Yeah. So that’s, that’s what got me into it. And then I found out about their design process. Uh, when I was a kid, I went to New York Tannen’s magic store, which is still there and bought a book or a magazine. And I had a thing like here’s how they designed the tricks at 10 yo. And I’m telling you to this day, that’s what got me into software documentation.

[00:25:46] Like, everything that I do now was because of that, because I learned that it wasn’t just, some guy was like, oh, how do I do a, you know, an undercut differently or whatever the heck. It was a whole team of engineers and magic nerds who got together and [00:26:00] created these highly designed tricks, uh, designed for kids to like, learn how to do magic.

[00:26:05] It was amazing.

[00:26:06] Christina: I

[00:26:06] love that. How cool is that? That’s awesome. So I’m glad that that was on the list, cause that I wouldn’t have thought to ever even talk to you about magic, but like that’s awesome. And I love that it’s had that kind of impact. Um, and those, those other things that’s really cool.

[00:26:23] Victor: That’s good stuff.

[00:26:24] I’m the nerd about

[00:26:25] Christina: it? No, I mean, well, look, this is a podcast about nerdy shit, so that, um, speaking of nerdy shit, Brett, do you want to tell us about tax

[00:26:34] Guest: expander?

[00:26:34] Brett: Oh, man. I really do. What was that? Yes, I, I, I got, I started writing show notes and I stopped hearing what you guys were talking about.

[00:26:46] Guest: I know,

[00:26:46] Brett: track of the conversation.

[00:26:48] Christina: know. I knew that you

[00:26:49] Brett: And then I realize I’m like, I’m why am I writing show notes? I’m doing a podcast right now. And yeah, so that’s where my brain’s at.

[00:26:56] Sponsor: TextExpander

[00:26:56] Brett: But speaking of magic

[00:26:59] Guest: [00:27:00] yeah.

[00:27:00] Brett: text expander, we’re always excited to have text expander as a sponsor on this show because text expander is our number one pick for productivity software on basically any platform, anything you type repeatedly can be turned into a snippet and you can turn it and you can insert it in any app just by typing in abbreviation.

[00:27:20] A couple of letters can insert long texts and even images and to email responses, online forms, text messages, reports, anywhere you’re typing. Stop typing the same thing multiple times. There’s just more to life than that text expanders 7.0 is now available for download the latest update brings fresh new experiences that make text expander easier to navigate all wrapped up in a whole new streamlined looking.

[00:27:45] This version includes enhanced snippet suggestions, improve conflict management, better accessibility, and more. Check out what’s new in text expander 7.0 by getting text expander today over-tired listeners get [00:28:00] 20% off their first year. Just visit text expander.com/podcast. To learn more about text expander that’s T E X T E X, P a N D E R.

[00:28:11] Just in case you were wondering textexpander.com/podcast back to you, Christina,

[00:28:17] What Are You ADHD or some shit?

[00:28:17] Christina: All right. Thank you, Brett. So, so that’s um, so I, I, I actually, it’s funny cause I, I picked up on the fact that you weren’t talking to us and I was like, oh, he’s completely tuned out. Um, and uh,

[00:28:29] Brett: it wasn’t a purpose. It had nothing to do with like, I don’t know what you were saying, so I can’t tell you that there was any reason I spaced out.

[00:28:37] Christina: No, no, no, no. I got it. And I looked, and I saw that you had updated the show notes because I, um, I was, um, finding the David Blaine, Ted talk thing. Um, and, um, uh, but cause, cause my, my ADHD food is good in the sense that I can be like doing something like that while I’m talking to someone and carry on the conversation and if I’m actively involved in the conversation, then I can like even be writing something and like [00:29:00] be totally fine.

[00:29:01] But if I’m not talking and I’m doing that, then I am going to completely like zone out on what’s

[00:29:07] Guest: happening around.

[00:29:07] Brett: And it gets way worse when you’re really tired over tired.

[00:29:11] Christina: overtired name, name of the show on the 10, but this actually is a good thing. Cause I’m looking at our shows and there are these how to ADHD

[00:29:18] Guest: stickers.

[00:29:19] Brett: Yeah. I just, I threw this on there because we’ve talked about the, how to ADHD YouTube channel before, and I’ve been a Patrion supporter of them forever and I’m pretty sure I never got my name in a video. So. And, and you get, uh, like higher, like elevated discord access with it, but I never use it. So I’m basically, I’ve just been throwing money at this channel and, and just watching the videos, like everyone who doesn’t pay, but just randomly in the mail last week, I got a letter from how to ADHD and inside were stickers, perfectly sized to cover my laptop [00:30:00] with and no note at all.

[00:30:02] No, thank you. No, nothing. Just a sheet of stickers. And I said, Hey, good enough. We all have ADHD. It’s surprising we get anything done.

[00:30:12] Christina: no, I was going to say, actually that seems like, kind of like the perfect, like, uh, like ADHD way of sitting. Something’s like, here you go. No contacts, no information, but here’s your shit. We’re sorry.

[00:30:22] Guest: It’s late.

[00:30:22] Brett: I remembered this stamp and I put the thing in the envelope. What more do you want from me?

[00:30:26] Christina: I exactly, you’ve got your damn stickers. Be happy that it got done. Um, also we spent an, uh, we probably spent an incredible attention to detail to make sure the stickers were as we wanted them to be. Um, and, and, and hyper-focused on those details. So yeah, no, I’m looking at their, um, at their, they have like t-shirts or something, I guess, uh, on their website right now that you link to.

[00:30:52] Um, and some of those other schools they’re based in Seattle, uh, at least their PO boxes. So I’m assuming they are. Um, but,

[00:30:59] Guest: uh,

[00:30:59] Brett: [00:31:00] There’s like a whole team now. I think they’re like a bunch of remote help with it. Uh, like

[00:31:05] Christina: Probably probably all I know is their PO box is not far from where I

[00:31:08] Guest: live.

[00:31:10] Brett: maybe you should see if you can meet Jessica. She, she, she seems very nice.

[00:31:14] Guest: No, I was

[00:31:15] Christina: actually kinda thinking, I was like, Hey,

[00:31:17] Guest: that would be cool.

[00:31:18] Brett: man, what if we could get her on the podcast?

[00:31:20] Christina: see that’s what I’m saying.

[00:31:22] Guest: See

[00:31:23] Brett: Oh, man.

[00:31:24] Guest: baby. They give her

[00:31:25] Brett: This would just be an ADHD pocket. We should only have people with ADHD on,

[00:31:31] Guest: I mean

[00:31:32] Brett: and we couldn’t have Aaron back though.

[00:31:34] Christina: yeah, so that’s what I’m saying. We like Erin and that feels elitist. I don’t know. Like I think that the Mo most people have, I don’t know. I feel like everybody’s a little bit neuro-diverse but um,

[00:31:45] Brett: neurodivergent

[00:31:47] Guest: yeah, there you go.

[00:31:48] Brett: I got corrected on that the other day.

[00:31:50] Guest: oh really?

[00:31:51] Brett: Like people can be neurodiverse, but a person is neurodivergent who versus whom

[00:31:59] Christina: Oh, right. Yeah. [00:32:00] Yeah. Yeah. I’m usually better with that grammar shit, but fuck it. It’s, you know, we’re tired. Um, okay. But, but, uh, but I’m seeing that that’s so funny that you just like, got like this like envelope of stickers. You’re like,

[00:32:09] Guest: okay,

[00:32:10] WHO PAYS $1000 A YEAR FOR ANYTHING

[00:32:10] Brett: Very, very random. All right. Especially since I’ve been like a Patrion subscriber for over a year and never. Yeah. It’s about time, I guess.

[00:32:21] Christina: Yeah. So I I’m, I’m a, I’m an accomplice for a defector are either of you familiar with defector.

[00:32:27] Brett: No.

[00:32:28] Christina: So do you remember Deadspin

[00:32:30] Brett: Yes.

[00:32:31] Christina: okay. So Deadspin imploded in spectacular fashion two years ago because they were given a mandate by the, um, like corporate older overlord, like piece of shit vulture, like, um, uh, what are they?

[00:32:44] Um, uh, not venture capitalists, but the, um, Um, hedge fund, like a Fox who, who bought it, um, uh, who bought geo media or bought. So they bought, uh, like, uh, all the, the Gizmodo media [00:33:00] group sites, which were all the Gawker sites, except for Gawker. Um, plus, um, all the, um, the fusion media group sites, which, uh, was, um, uh, splinter, which is now gone, uh, the root, the onion and, uh, AB club.

[00:33:14] Um, and, um, they, they bought, um, that, um, In 20 18, 20, 19, I wanna say. And, um, they, uh, proceeded to then like ruin it the way that most of those things ruined things. And they issued an edict to the Dea